Dear Minot Community and the Region-at-Large:

The completion of our healthcare campus and medical district is getting closer and you can feel the excitement growing. What started as an empty plot of land in SW Minot has evolved into a beacon of hope for those seeking care and healing – the symbol of our once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the delivery of care in northwest North Dakota.

For the third letter in our series, I’d like to share how our “Reinventing Health” vision moved from words on a page to “shovels in the dirt.”

At the end of 2010, the Trinity Health Board of Directors received our proposal advocating for construction of a new healthcare campus and medical district – one capable of meeting the current needs of our region and adapting to whatever the future may hold.

The Board supported the direction we were heading but had two important questions.

Where will you build this hospital – downtown or SW Minot?

How will it be paid for?

A feasibility study of potential locations, including the existing Trinity Hospital located downtown, answered the first question. After thorough evaluation of everything from traffic patterns to anticipated advancements in medical care, the new healthcare campus and medical district would be built on land purchased in 2008 and designated for “future use.”

Management also developed financial plans to explain funding options for the project. A combination of philanthropic giving, grants, a bond initiative, and cash flow from operations would cover the estimated $500 million capital investment.

With the Board’s approval and a solid plan in place, the work of turning our vision into reality could truly begin.

• Architects, engineers, and contractors started detailing a scope of work for this massive endeavor.
• Trinity Health leaders and regional educators discussed ways to enhance medical education programs and access to research and training opportunities.
• Military, Native American, public health, and faith communities were asked about their healthcare needs and challenges to identify potential partnerships and initiatives.

In 2016, the local Planning Commission approved Trinity’s proposal to build a new healthcare campus and medical district on the land in SW Minot.

Our team hired new physicians, opened a walk-in clinic, expanded services, and purchased new equipment. We also started a rebranding process that would give cultural, visual, and community identity to our modern, regional care system.

In September of 2018, Trinity Health revealed the “Making More Possible” brand and simultaneously broke ground for the healthcare campus and medical district. It was a momentous occasion for the entire region.

Next time, I’ll share more details about the construction process, how the COVID-19 pandemic affected our progress, and exactly what you can expect when we open in 2023.